Marie Wessell

OXFORD - Marie T. (Sweeney) Wessell, 86, died Wednesday, April 8, 2015, surrounded by her family at UMass Memorial Medical Center - University Campus, after a short illness. She was predeceased by her husband of 30 years, Ernest E. Wessell, Sr., who died in 1986. She is survived by five children, Carolyn J. Banfill and her husband Alfred of Oxford, Ernest E. Wessell, Jr., and his wife Cynthia of Sturbridge, Dianne P. Wessell and her husband Ashimba Tariq of Binghamton, NY, James P. Wessell and his wife Mary Ellen of Rochdale, and Barbara A. Wessell of Sturbridge; a brother, Richard Sweeney and his wife Hilda of Northborough; 11 grandchildren, Melissa, Michelle, Amanda, Shani, Todd, Jeffrey, Lindsay, Idasa, Shelby, Felicia, Robert Jr.; 4 great grandchildren, Adrienne, Cortney, Chloe, and Rhyan; and many nephews and nieces. She was predeceased by a daughter, Joanne M. Anderson of Oxford who died in 2009; a brother, Francis Sweeney; a sister, Patricia Bottcher; and a granddaughter, Nasima Tariq. She was born in Worcester, the daughter of the late Alfred and Martha (Wilson) Sweeney, and lived in Oxford since 1957. She graduated from Classical High School in Worcester in 1946. Mrs. Wessell loved being home to raise her 6 children, the best job in the world. She worked for the Town of Oxford as Chapter 1/Title 1 for the schools as well as clerk for the Cemetery Commissioners and Historical Commission. Mrs. Wessell was a member of the Oxford Woman's Club, the Daughters of Isabella and Blue Bird leader. She was a communicant of St. Roch's Church in Oxford. She enjoyed tending to her gardens, could often be found doing crossword puzzles (in pen) and spending quality time with her family. A funeral will be held on Monday, April 13, 2015, from Paradis-Givner Funeral Home, 357 Main St., Oxford, followed by a Mass at 10 a.m. at St. Roch's Church, 332 Main St., Oxford. Burial will follow at Worcester County Memorial Park in Paxton. Calling hours are Sunday, April 12, 2015, from 4-6 p.m. at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Oxford Free Public Library, c/o Town of Oxford, 325 Main St., Oxford, MA 01540.